We called the Fairfax County police for help....the punks they sent threatened to arrest us. One cop tells my wife that if she keeps crying he'll arrest her and the other cop, La Forge or something, says to me "You call the police this what you get" I said that was wrong and he said "Go ahead, say more fuck'n thing prick" and I thought "Well if you insist".
“It’s becoming a disturbingly familiar scene in America - mentally unstable cops”
Cop fired under ruling
Albany police officer with a long off-duty history is terminatedALBANY — An Albany police officer with an extensive history of off-duty problems, including arrests for assault and driving while intoxicated, was fired Monday under a ruling from a state-appointed arbitrator.
Robert L. Schunk II, 40, had faced termination since 2010, when the department moved to fire the 14-year veteran following his arrest in two domestic violence incidents, including one in which he later admitted pointing a loaded gun at his ex-girlfriend.
The woman, Barbara Waters, testified against Schunk at his criminal trials in Albany and Halfmoon. Last year, Schunk was acquitted by a jury in the Albany case. He had been indicted for felony assault and testified that he pointed a loaded handgun at Waters, and his own head, during an argument in January 2009.
Last month, Waters testified at Schunk's trial in Halfmoon, in which a jury found him guilty of harassment and criminal mischief in an incident at Waters' residence in April 2010. Schunk kicked in a bathroom door at Waters' apartment and allegedly roughed her up. She told police the incident took place after Schunk poured a drink over her head at a nearby bar in a fit of jealousy.
"Any woman that feels like a police department has control over what they do, it's not true," Waters said Monday, after learning of the arbitrator's decision. "You can fight, and you can win."
Schunk joined the department in 1998 and had off-duty brushes with police dating back 10 years. His arrest history includes a 2005 conviction for driving while ability impaired after his vehicle slammed into two parked cars in Albany.
Two years ago, the department investigated allegations that Schunk served alcohol to on-duty officers who gathered at his residence in uniform for private parties. The internal probe did not result in disciplinary charges. Department leaders said the officers, who were photographed in uniform holding beer bottles, claimed they had been relieved of duty by a supervisor.
Schunk was represented in the arbitration by an attorney for Council 82, an umbrella union for the Albany Police Officers Union. A union spokesman was not available for comment Monday.
Police Chief Steven Krokoff was not available for comment. Deputy Chief Stephen Reilly said the department is pleased with the arbitrator's decision. Although the arbitrator, Sheila S. Cole, discredited much of Waters' testimony as inconsistent, Reilly said police found Waters' accounts of a long history of domestic violence to be "credible and consistent."
"We felt that she was truthful right from the beginning," the deputy chief said. "I'm pleased that Mr. Schunk's future activities will no longer have the ability to tarnish the reputation of the honorable women and men in the Albany Police Department."
The arbitrator concluded that Schunk lied about soliciting a prostitute in Colonie two years ago while on suspension. The encounter with the prostitute took place in August 2010 when Schunk picked the 23-year-old woman up on an Albany street. He said he was driving around "bored" and gave the woman a ride out of sympathy. She told detectives he paid her $60 for sex.
A Colonie police officer discovered the pair in Schunk's pickup truck in a Kmart parking lot at 2:30 a.m. An empty condom wrapper was found on the ground next to Schunk's driver's door. The officer said their clothes were disheveled and Schunk appeared to be on top of the woman, who was arrested for giving a fake name and carrying a hypodermic needle and bags with heroin residue. Schunk was not arrested.
Two months ago, Schunk was suspended on new administrative charges after Glenville police charged him with violating an order of protection for allegedly sending emails to Waters. That case is pending and was not part of Schunk's arbitration case.
Schunk is scheduled to be sentenced in Halfmoon Town Court next month for harassment and criminal mischief..
Saratoga County District Attorney James A. Murphy III said his office will ask a judge to sentence Schunk to up to a year in jail.
"I am thankful that the Albany (police) had sufficient evidence to remove him from their ranks in order to maintain their high standard of professionalism and ethics," Murphy said in a statement. "I applaud Chief Krokoff for his decisive action."
Officer's history of troubles:
February 1998: Robert L. Schunk hired as Albany police officer.
June 2002: Colonie police respond to domestic incident involving Schunk and a woman. Police said Schunk appeared intoxicated, was physically violent and broke a vase. No arrest.
April 2005: Schunk suspended, arrested for off-duty DWI. His vehicle slammed into two parked cars in Albany.
August 2005: Schunk pleads guilty to driving while ability impaired. Returns to duty.
June 2007: Saratoga County police respond to residence of Schunk's brother as two men fought. Both appeared intoxicated and Schunk allegedly "threatened to shoot his brother with a pistol." No arrest.
June 2009: Saratoga County deputies respond to domestic involving Schunk and then-girlfriend. Alleged victim showed deputies bruises on her body. No arrest.
April 2010: Violent domestic incident as Schunk arrested by Saratoga deputies for harassment, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. Suspended from duty.
May 2010: Schunk indicted by Albany County grand jury for felony assault, accused of grinding loaded pistol against girlfriend's head during alcohol-fueled incident at Schunk's Albany residence in January 2009.
August 2010: Albany police internal investigation of allegations Schunk solicited prostitute. No charges filed.
February 2011: Albany County jury acquits Schunk of felony assault.
February 2011: Albany police internal probe into allegations on-duty officers drank alcohol at Schunk's residence. No charges filed.
February 2012: Schunk arrested in Glenville for violation of order of protection from 2010 domestic incident in Halfmoon.
March 2012: Schunk convicted of harassment and criminal mischief in Halfmoon Town Court.
April 2012: Schunk fired by arbitrator with Public Employees Relations Board.
Sources: Court records, police reports.